I have been a long-time fan of Puzzle Quest and while waiting for its eventual release for Android I came across a title that offers similar game-play and has been optimized for a touchscreen device. Lair Quest, by Appomatic Software takes the core strategy of Puzzle Quest and builds upon it.
Lair Quest is played on the tiled grid similar to Bejeweled. But rather than simply matching colors, Lair Quest takes the experience several steps further. One of the main differences is that you are playing against an opponent. You make a turn, and then the enemy takes their turn. Your turn is made by swiping through 3 or more similar tiles. Swiping through potions increases your health value, swiping through shields increases your defense. To attack the enemy dragons you make a swipe through them that includes a sword. When the dragons take their turn they will eat away at your defenses and the more dragons on-screen, the greater the damage. Deciding whether your next move will be an attack to reduce the enemy’s damage next turn, or a move to build up your defenses is one of the most important strategies of the game.
As you progress you will face more difficult dragons. However you will also acquire several spells that will be critical to your survival. Once a spell is used it goes into a cool-down period until it can be used again. Deciding when to use which spell is another core strategy of the game. One of the things that makes this game so interesting is the strategy involved. Each spell you choose and character ability you upgrade has a huge impact on the unique experience of that game. With the many different abilities to choose from, building the ultimate character is half the fun. The game includes 3 unique ‘lairs’ for you to conquer, each with its own enemies, spells and strategy. Each lair gets progressively harder and they can only be unlocked after you’ve proven you’re worthy in the previous lair.
Lair Quest has many great things going for it. The graphical style is beautiful and it is obvious that this project was a labor of love. Each game object is elegantly rendered creating a cohesive experience that draws you into the fantasy world. The balance of the different elements has been perfected so different strategies can be equally successful. The casual nature of the game makes it ideal for the mobile platform and the constant save system means that you can always pick the game back up from where you left off.
Lair Quest doesn’t have a background music track which isn’t really a big deal as a looping music track is usually the first things I disable in a game. The current version doesn’t offer global high scores however the developer has said they plan to include OpenFeint in their next update. Being able to compete with other Lair Quest’ers from around the world will add an exciting social element. Overall Lair Quest is an easy recommendation. It’s addictive nature is guaranteed to keep you up at night wanting just one more turn.
For more info on Lair Quest visit www.appomaticsoftware.com
